Medical News Today: What to know about Freon poisoning

Refrigerant poisoning can occur if a person inhales or consumes the chemicals — also known by the brand name of Freon — from cooling appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners.

Accidental refrigerant poisoning is rare but can occur when a person works directly with cooling chemicals. Poisoning is more common in people who use the substance as a recreational drug.

Mild exposure to Freon in a well-ventilated area is usually not serious, including having a small amount on the skin or having a localized leak in the home. However, if a person notices symptoms of refrigerant poisoning, they should contact their doctor or emergency service immediately.

In this article, learn about the symptoms of refrigerant poisoning, as well as how to treat and prevent it happening.

What is refrigerant poisoning?

Toxicity warnings on tubes of hazardous chemical substances.

Refrigerant poisoning happens when a person inhales chemicals used in cooling appliances.

Certain appliances, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and freezers, contain chemicals called fluorinated hydrocarbons. People often refer to these chemicals as Freon, which is a leading brand name.

Freon is a dangerous substance. This almost odorless and tasteless gas can cause severe symptoms if a person inhales too much at once.

Because refrigerants cut off the oxygen supply, some people use the gas to get high. This is very dangerous, as breathing in refrigerants in high concentrations or large amounts can lead to death.

If a person suspects they have inhaled refrigerants accidentally, they should contact the emergency services immediately.

Symptoms

Symptoms of refrigerant poisoning vary based on exposure. If exposure happens accidentally due to a leaking appliance in a well-ventilated area, poisoning is not likely to occur.

Accidental poisoning is rare. Most cases of poisoning occur due to intentional exposure when someone wants to get high, or they inhale the gas in an enclosed space.

Causes

The most common cause of refrigerant poisoning is substance abuse. Refrigerants are easy to obtain because of their low cost and use in many appliances.

A person may use a rag, a small container, bag, or an appliance soaked with refrigerant chemicals to get high.

Freon is one of several common inhalants used by teens and adults with the aim of getting a high from the fumes. Inhaled substances usually have short-lasting effects, so it is not uncommon for a person to inhale several deep breaths in a row to extend the high. Taking multiple breaths also substantially increases the chance of causing refrigerant poisoning.

Though not as common, it is possible to get refrigerant poisoning from accidental exposure. This is most likely to occur if a person works in a facility that uses refrigerants.

Accidental exposure may also occur from working on products that contain the chemicals.

It is not likely that a person will develop poisoning from a leaking home appliance, assuming it is in a well-ventilated area.

Treatment

It is vital to call the emergency service or Poison Control in the United States, which runs a 24-hour telephone guidance service for poisoning emergencies, if a person is showing signs of refrigerant poisoning.

If possible, a bystander should help a person move to a well-ventilated area or outdoors where they can get fresh air while waiting for the ambulance.

In the emergency room, doctors will monitor a person’s heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.

Direct treatment will attempt to fix any internal or external damage from the poisoning.

Treatments the doctor may use include:

medication to treat symptoms or internal damage

oxygen through a breathing tube

removal or treatment of any burned skin

removal of liquid from the stomach, using a tube if ingested

There are currently no drugs available to treat the poisoning directly.

Also, doctors do not have a formal way to diagnose the condition, but they will administer treatment if they expect or can confirm exposure to refrigerants.

Prevention

People abusing refrigerants may use spray cans to inhale the chemicals.